Last Updated on 05/12/2023 by Dolly
As the field of cybersecurity benefits from the ever-evolving field of artificial intelligence, we cannot rule out that hackers will benefit from it as well. Since artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have fallen into the hands of hackers, attacks have become more persuasive, precisely targeted and harder to detect.
In this article, we’ll see how hackers are taking advantage of AI and ML to exploit them and breach security systems in ways that have never been done before.
1. Automated Phishing Strategies
Even users who possess a high level of intelligence can fall victim to auto-phishing, which is powered by algorithms with artificial intelligence. Natural language processing (NLP), publicly visible digital information of users or organizations, and personalized emails tailored to the recipient are all used in these attacks. They also use AI-generated images of individuals who do not exist in the real world, spoofed social media profiles, and email signatures to further strengthen the deception.
2. The Constantly Shifting Malware Environment
The world of malware, which is constantly evolving, has undergone a fundamental change with the addition of AI. To accommodate this transformation and work appropriately with AI, they use malware variants that are dynamic rather than static. With the ability to analyze its environment, learn from interactions, and change its behavior in real time, AI-generated malware has become significantly harder to detect. Due to its general ability to recognize and eliminate well-known patterns, AI poses a threat to antivirus software.
3. ID Stuffing Rediscovered
The transformation, which is the result of a combination of machine learning (ML) and credential stuffing attacks, a well-known cyber threat path, employs complex algorithms that can test username and password combinations obtained from multiple platforms systematically. These AI-powered attacks, which can penetrate security systems by mimicking human-like behavior, have made detection much more difficult. By exploiting patterns used by the individuals that they attack, attackers can bypass measures to circumvent anomalous activity.
4. Social Engineering with AI
Changing the course of cyber threats, artificial intelligence, along with chatbots and voice synthesis, have become powerful tools in the field of social engineering. These extremely convincing methods break the rules by misleading even experienced people. Since individuals do not understand whether the other person is artificial intelligence or not and naturally do not feel insecure, the attackers’ job becomes even easier. Thus, attackers capture individuals’ sensitive information through chatbots equipped with algorithms supported by artificial intelligence. Attackers use voice synthesis technology to mimic the voices of anyone, whether high-ups in the company, friends or family, adding a layer of affective realism to their tactics.
5. A Revisited Look at Data Leaks
The access to and exploitation of sensitive information has been revolutionized by artificial intelligence algorithms, ushering in a new era. Artificial intelligence algorithms that are used in data leakage strategies play a key part in this process by carefully analyzing and spotting information within huge data sets. While accessing files and databases, it can easily bypass security measures by pretending to be the targeted user. Currently, antivirus programs cannot fully identify threats coming from artificial intelligence. As a result, attackers can easily bypass firewalls.
6. Hostile Attacks and Cybersecurity
Malicious algorithms that are supported by artificial intelligence are used to manipulate security programs. They can generate inputs in their favor covertly by taking advantage of the weaknesses of artificial intelligence and the limitations of the system. Cybercriminals are able to sneak into networks by misclassifying malicious activity as legitimate, thanks to this deception.
7. AI-Powered DDoS Offensives
Instead of using static patterns, artificial intelligence applications used to improve the DDoS defense mechanism use dynamic patterns. Because of their continuity, these patterns are challenging to stop. Algorithms allow them to analyze real-time data, exploit vulnerabilities and adjust their tactics accordingly, resulting in massive traffic that overwhelms the systems they target. As a result, organizations and their cyber security teams are struggling against such massive attacks.
8. Deepfakes and Cybercrime
Deep learning, a branch of artificial intelligence, has made it possible for attackers to mimic media. These are made possible by algorithms that can mimic a wide range of things, including voices, trusted individuals, employees with authority in a company, television news, and trusted individuals themselves.
While machine learning and artificial intelligence continue to revolutionize the age of technology, hackers continue to use these technologies to their advantage. In order to prevent these attacks, individuals or organizations need to follow the tactics closely and add them to their security systems. Thus, individuals or organizations can stay one step ahead of threats thanks to artificial intelligence.
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